Archibald Shepherd
From Our Contribution
 The four Shepherd Brothers Archie rear right ? The Westralian Battalion, N Browning, page 209 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1889 |
| Place of Birth | Rustington, England |
| Death | 4 Jul 1956 |
| Place of Death | Safety Bay, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 27 years, 1 month |
| Description |
5'9¼" (1.76m) tall ; 150lbs 68.039 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Brickmaker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Horgan street, Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Evangaline Matilda Shepherd |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2038 |
| Date of Enlistment | 28 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 10 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk Fremantle to Plymouth |
| Date of Return | 14 Jan 1919 ‒ 18 Feb 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS City of York |
| Fate | WIA 9 Jun 1917 Messines Ridge |
| Monument | Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Possibly a worker at the Maddington wood fired brickworks as he moved back to this area post war and he and his brother Ephraim continued to make bricks.
War Service
Archibald entered the Blackboy Hill camp on 28 Mar 1916, and on 17 Apr 1916 was allocated to the 20th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. A Month later he was transferred to the NCO's School from 3 May to 20 Jun 1916, after which he emerged as an Acting Corporal and was reallocated to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, travelling with them to England aboard HMAT A23 Suffolk.
On arrival in England he was sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for service on the Western Front. Archibald proceeded overseas to France on HMT Invicta from Folkestone on 4 Feb 1917. After a few days in the Divisional Base Depot, Archibald was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion on 8 Feb 1917 as they were coming out of the front lines near Armentieres. On joining them his Regimental No. was altered to 2038A.
Archibald was wounded in action on 9 Jun 1917 when the 44th Battalion attacked and took German positions on the Messines Ridge. They suffered few casualties taking the position but suffered more than 300 casualties holding on to it. Treated by the 77th Field Ambulance, he was sent back to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station the same day, he spent two days in a hospital at Wimereux before being assessed as needing to be sent to England.
He was evacuated to England aboard HMHS St David on 12 Jun 1917 with a shell wound to the right thigh, and there he was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital the same day. On 29 Aug 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Granted furlough from 1 - 15 Sep 1917, he reported to No 2 Command Depot in Weymouth. On 23 Sep 1917 he was sent to the 3rd Command Depot in Hurdcott to be medically assessed for further involvement in the war.
Assessed as B1a2, B1a1, B1a2, and B1a4 and finally B2a over the next two months, he was sent to Sutton Veny to be a part of the Permanent Cadre, and on 27 Oct 1918, he was promoted Temporary Corporal. Following his return to Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 29 May 1919.
Post War
Evangaline died on 19 Jul 1988, aged 93 in Victoria Park.
Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1943 Dellar road Maddington, labourer; - 1949 Defence road, Safety Bay, brickmaker; 1954 at 328 Safety Bay road, retired.
Notes